India's Fighter Jet Boost: 200 Su-30s To Get Near 5th-Gen Upgrade In Rs 25,000 Crore Deal
India is facing a significant crisis due to a shortage of fighter planes, with the Air Force needing at least 42 squadrons to effectively manage threats from both China and Pakistan. However, it currently has only 29 squadrons, while Pakistan has 25 and China 66 squadrons.
Adding to the challenge, both adversaries possess fifth-generation fighter jets, whereas India's most modern aircraft is the Rafale, a 4.5-generation fighter jet, with just two squadrons in service.
Despite this alarming situation, the Indian government and military are actively seeking solutions to address the shortfall in fighter planes. The complexity of the issue lies in the necessity to acquire fifth-generation jets, which are scarce in the global market. Presently, only the United States, China, and Russia manufacture these advanced jets. Due to geopolitical tensions with China, India is left with only two viable options, the US or Russia.
The American F-35 fighter jet, although available, is prohibitively expensive and incompatible with India's existing military systems. Moreover, doubts about its capabilities have led the Indian government to decline this option.
What Is India's Only Option?
India's Homegrown Upgrade Plan
Given these constraints, the most practical solution for India appears to be developing its own fifth-generation fighter jets. However, this endeavour, encapsulated in the AMCA programme, is expected to take at least 10 years.
In the interim, India has devised a domestic solution to enhance its existing fleet of Sukhoi-30 aircraft. The Indian Air Force currently operates around 260 Sukhoi-30 jets, which are fourth-generation fighters. The plan involves upgrading 200 of these jets to near fifth-generation standards, significantly improving their capabilities.
Sukhoi Upgrade Gets Rs 19,000 Crore Boost
In 2023, the government approved a budget of Rs 19,000 crore for this upgrade, initially covering 84 fighter jets. This upgrade includes the installation of more powerful Saturn AL-31F Series 3 engines and indigenous Virupaksha AESA radars, increasing engine thrust from 12.5 tonnes to 14.5 tonnes and extending the service life to 4,000 hours. These improvements will enhance the jets' performance in challenging terrains like Ladakh.
The government now plans to upgrade 200 Sukhoi jets at an estimated cost of Rs 25,000 crore. This is seen as a highly cost-effective move, as each Rafale jet purchased from France in 2016 now costs around Rs 2,000 crore, while upgrading a single Sukhoi will cost only about Rs 125 crore.
Virupaksha Radar
The indigenous Virupaksha AESA radar system developed by DRDO is a key component of this upgrade. This advanced radar, featuring gallium nitride technology, can detect and track 40 enemy targets simultaneously at distances of 250 to 300 km and can electronically jam enemy aircraft, a critical capability of fifth-generation jets.
On this basis, it is said that equipping the Sukhoi with this radar brings it close to fifth-generation capabilities. With this upgrade, alongside the Rafale, India will have a fleet of near–fifth-generation fighter jets, enhancing its ability to effectively counter future threats.
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